nonastronomy

Nonastronomy is a term used to describe a proposed category of inquiry that addresses aspects of space that fall outside the scientific study of celestial bodies and their properties. It is used to frame discussions of the human, cultural, ethical, legal, historical, and communicative dimensions of space rather than its physical phenomena.

The term is not widely established as a formal discipline, but it appears in discussions about the boundaries between scientific and humanities approaches to space. Proponents argue that nonastronomy helps organize research and discussion around topics such as space policy and law, ethical considerations of space activities, the history of space exploration, the sociology of astronauts and spaceflight, and how space is represented in media, art, and public discourse.

Scope and examples: space governance, international space law, space ethics (for example, issues of planetary protection or commercial responsibility), history of space programs, social impacts of long-duration missions, science communication about astronomy, and cultural production related to space exploration.

Relation to other fields: it overlaps with philosophy of science, science and technology studies, anthropology, sociology, history, and cultural studies. It is not intended as a replacement for astronomy or planetary science, but as a complementary lens on the nontechnical dimensions of space.

Criticism: some scholars view the term as vague or redundant, arguing that many topics can be studied within established disciplines. Others see value in a unifying label that foregrounds nontechnical questions about space and society.